Interested in participating?
Scaling the impact of the SPP is an emerging and exciting opportunity. The local success in Vancouver, and the recent Surrey, Toronto and Winnipeg launches have generated a variety of inquiries, and currently a working relationship with groups across the country in various developmental stages. Cities currently developing or investigating a local Social Purchasing Portal include: Surrey, Victoria, Halifax, Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton, West Kootenays, London, Sault Ste. Marie, and Abbotsford.

The replication of the SPP into a national network of local sites represents a remarkable opportunity to scale up the economic, employment and social impact of the SPP concept.

The Network Model...
The SPP Canada ‘network’ is a collaboration of local SPP initiatives. The sites share a common branding message, operate through a shared SQL database, and all respond to their local communities defined economic and social vision.

The network model allows local communities to develop their own strategies for utilizing the SPP technology effectively. Vancouver has a particular interest in economic and employment opportunities for the businesses and residents of the Downtown Eastside, but with the flexibility to aid other residents of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia. Toronto will be using a neighbourhood field in their database searches to respond to local corporate interest to buy and hire locally in specific geographic areas. Winnipeg is targeting the North end of the city and promoting the business and economic improvement of that area. Surrey is utilizing a model that targets both business-to-business and consumer purchasing decisions to help find jobs for local residents and build vibrant, more socially-responsible communities throughout the entire city.

The network model allows businesses to participate in every city where they may have potential customers and it allows purchasers to look for goods or services not available in their local markets while adhering with their social commitment to the Portal.

Self-sustaining model...
The SPP is itself a social enterprise, operating on a self-sustaining business model. Expenses after start-up include one person for the ongoing marketing and business engagement and the technical maintenance expenses. The income sources are: enhanced supplier pages, corporate/purchaser sponsorships, advertising on the site, and contracts and grants related to employment and economic development. Each community pays their own hosting and monthly maintenance costs. Since this is collaboration and not a franchise model, we operate cooperatively, with Vancouver currently acting as the managing partner.

We invite your community to join the SPP network:

• To promote corporate social responsibility
• To build markets for suppliers of goods and services
• To support targeted local economic growth and job creation

If you would like more information, contact Iqbal Alam at ialam@sppvancouver.org or at 778.328.7671.